Fall Sternwheeler Cruises

The autumn months are the most magical to enjoy a riverboat cruise. The beautiful hues of red, green, and orange burst forth on every tree along the river banks. The Valley Gem Sternwheeler offers more than a dozen unique paddlewheel cruises for the entire family. It's an experience that is difficult to duplicate.

October 18, 21 and November 3

Willow Island Lock Cruise

This cruise travels up the Ohio River to Willow Island Lock and Dam. You will enjoy our Captain's Buffet lunch or dinner while cruising up the Ohio River. We will lock through Willow Island, turn around, lock down again and return to our dock in Marietta. Reservations are required.

$47 Adults, $45 Seniors 55+ and $37 Children 3-12

October 10, 14, 19

Lock and Lunch Cruises

Marietta's unique location allows the Valley Gem to offer a variety of Lock and Dam tours. Tours travel through Devol's Dam on the Muskingum River. The cruise departs at 12 p.m. and goes through Devol's Dam and returns at 3 p.m. We feature a Captain's Lunch Buffet included in your ticket price.

October 13

Muskingum River Day Cruise

Between 1836 and 1841, a system of 11 hand-operated locks and dams were constructed on the Muskingum to assure a constant river pool for steamboat commerce. This was the first time a complete river had been canalized in the United States. Today, the Muskingum River locks and dams still operate by hand just as they did in 1841. It was an engineering marvel of its day and still works. The Valley Gem was specifically designed to operate through these locks. The Muskingum River lock system is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a Navigation Historic District.

This cruise will travel through three locks, both upriver and downriver and two side cut canals. During this unique cruise, you will get to see the lock operations up close as the lock masters open and close the lock chambers by hand.

This experience cannot be duplicated anywhere in the United States. The Valley Gem is the only passenger vessel that runs the Muskingum River. The tour departs from Marietta at 9 a.m. and returns to the dock at 7 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board the boat.

Reservations are required. $85 per person

October 21

Lockapalooza

The Valley Gem has added a new event to its lineup this year - a trip that lets you experience locks on both the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers on the same day! Your day starts at 9 a.m. with breakfast served on the way to the hand-operated lock at Devola. During the return trip lunch is served as the boat travels up the Ohio to Willow Island Lock and Dam. The lock systems are very different experiences and this is an opportunity to see both up close. The cruise ends at 5 p.m.

If you love the traditional brewed cup of coffee, you will love Stoked Coffee. This native Parkersburg business serves custom made coffee using the top 5% of coffee beans from around the world. Each cup of Joe is full-bodied yet smooth, nutty and chocolaty in flavor.

A cozy retreat to the welcoming forests and hills of West Virginia will offer you a few days to catch your breath and relax. North Bend State Park and Lodge are the ideal setting for your winter or spring retreat. The park hosts a number of events ranging from girlfriend getaways to murder mystery dinner theatre and more!

You’re sure to be entertained when you pick a performance to attend at one of our local theaters! The legendary Smoot Theatre in downtown Parkersburg recalls the splendor of another era. The Actors Guild of Parkersburg entertains with incredible productions by award-winning local talent. And the recently restored and re-opened Peoples Bank Theatre is jam-packed with nationally-known artists all year.

There are some fantastic shopping opportunities in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Here is a printable shopping trail of our Parkersburg & Marietta Partners. As you drive along you might just see some other shops that catch your eye!